Kinetic sculpture

ABSTRACT

A kinetic sculpture having a generally tubular motion imparting device rotatably mounted on a base structure oblique to a vertical axis therethrough. The tubular device has a substantially closed bottom and a substantially open top and is rotated by a motor mounted on the base structure for rotation about its major longitudinal axis. One or more rod-like flexible members having diameters less than one-half the inside diameter of the tubular device are positioned in the tubular device so as to rest on the bottom thereof. The open top of the tubular device is irregularly shaped and the periphery thereof extends oblique to said vertical axis. The flexible rod members bear against the periphery of the open top and are moved thereby in response to rotation of the tubular device so as to cause swinging, bobbing, swaying, whipping and other movements to the rod members depending on the shape of the periphery of the open top of the tubular device. Figure objects may be mounted on the free moving ends of the rod members.

United States Patent [191 Bradt 1 KINETIC SCULPTURE [76] Inventor:Gordon E. Bradt, 828 Ashland Ave., Wilmette, 1]]. 60091 [22] Filed: Jan.21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 434,861

[52] US. Cl 40/126 R; 40/1063; 40/139; 46/245 [51] Int. Cl. G091 19/02[58] Field of Search. 40/126 R, 126 B, 139, 106.42, 40/1063, 33, 30;46/245, 243, 136, 137

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-John F. PitrelliAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee and Sweeney .tlllllmi June 10, 1975 [57]ABSTRACT A kinetic sculpture having a generally tubular motion impartingdevice rotatably mounted on a base structure oblique to a vertical axistherethrough. The tubular device has a substantially closed bottom and asubstantially open top and is rotated by a motor mounted on the basestructure for rotation about its major longitudinal axis. One or morerod-like flexible members having diameters less than one-half the insidediameter of the tubular device are positioned in the tubular device soas'to rest on the bottom thereof. The open top of the tubular device isirregularly shaped and the periphery thereof extends oblique to saidvertical axis. The flexible rod members bear against the periphery ofthe open top and are moved thereby in response to rotation of thetubular device so as to cause swinging, bobbing, swaying, whipping andother movements to the rod members depending on the shape of theperiphery of the open top of the tubular device. Figure objects may bemounted on the free moving ends of the rod members.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures KINETIC SCULPTURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the art of kinetic sculpture.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe character described in the form of an action display mechanismproviding a simple, low cost and reliable mechanism that imparts avariety of swinging, swaying and bobbing movements to various kineticart or display objects when they are mounted on or attached to thedevice.

More particularly, the exemplary embodiment of the invention includes abase structure providing a housing for positioning on a table, desk top,or other appropriate support structurc. The base structure houses an ACmotor having appropriate step down gears for rotating a tubular memberjournalled on the housing for rotation by the motor about its majorlongitudinal axis. The tubular member is mounted oblique to a verticalaxis. The bottom of the tubular member is substantially closed and thetop thereof is substantially open. The periphery of the open top of thetubular member extends oblique to the vertical axis and is irregularlyshaped. One or more elongated flexible rod-like members are positionedin the tubular member so that the lower ends thereof rest on the closedbottom of the tubular member. The rod members bear against the irregularperiphery of the open top of the tubular member and are caused to movein various swinging, bobbing, swaying, whipping and other movements inresponse to rotation of the tubular member depending on theirregularities formed at the top of the tubular member. Differentobjects such as kites, abstract flowers, a caricature head, or otherfigure objects may be mounted on the free moving end of the rod-likemembers for movement therewith.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a generally central verticalsection through the kinetic sculpture of the present invention, with asubstantial portion of the flexible rod member cut away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one formofirregular open top for the motion imparting tubular member of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing adifferent form of open top for the tubular member, provided with a pairof diametrically disposed flat areas;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of a form of kineticsculpture embodying the concepts of the present invention, employing aplurality of flexible rod members with abstract flowers formed on thefree swinging ends thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, with a caricature headmounted on the end ofa singular rod member; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5, with a simulated kitemounted on the end ofa relatively long flexible rod member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings ingreater detail, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 4 through 6, the kineticsculpture or action display mechanism of the present invention includesa base structure, generally designated 10 which has a generally flatbase portion 12 on top of which is mounted a housing portion 14. Thehousing portion 14 is positioned within a recess 16 on top of the baseportion 12. The housing portion 14 has an interior cavity, generallydesignated 18. The base structure 10 is adapted for positioning on asupport structure such as a table, desk top or the like.

An AC motor 20 is mounted within the cavity [8 of the housing portion 14by appropriate means such as screws or bolts 22. An appropriateelectrical cord 24 leads from the motor 20 through an aperture 26 in thehousing portion 14 and has a conventional electrical plug 28 on theouter end thereof for insertion into standard electrical outlets.

The motor 20 has appropriate step down gear means 30 leading to a driveshaft 32 forming part of the motive means of the present invention.

The motion imparting means of the present invention comprises a tubularmember 34 which is operatively associated with the drive shaft 32 so asto be rotated thereby. As seen in FIG. 1, a cross rod 36 fixed to thedrive shaft 32 protrudes through appropriate openings in the sides andat the bottom of the tubular member 34 for fixing the tubular member tothe drive shaft 32 so as to be rotated thereby. The tubular member 34 isrotatable within a journal or bearing 38 which is fixed relativc to thehousing portion within a bore 40. The tubular member, thus, is rotatablewithin the bearing 38 for rotation relative to the base structure 10.

As seen best in FIG. 1, the tubular member 34, its bearing 38 and thehousing bore 40 are oriented so that the tubular member 34 rotates aboutits major longitudinal axis, with the axis being oblique to a verticalaxis when the device is properly positioned on a support structure. Thetubular member is substantially closed at its bottom by means of a plugmember 42 fixed to the top of the drive shaft 32. The top of the tubularmember is substantially open and is defined by a periphery 44 which isoblique to said vertical axis. As described in greater detailhereinafter, the periphery 44 of the open top of the tubular member 34is irregularly shaped to define a cam means.

One or more elongated flexible rod-like members 46 are positioned withtheir lower ends into the tubular member 34 so that the bottom end 46athereof rests on top of the plug member 42, while an area 46b of the rodmembers, spaced from the lower end 460, bears against the cam periphery44 of the open top of the tubular member 34. The rod members 46preferably have diameters less than one-half of the inside diameter ofthe tubular member 34. As the tubular member 34 is rotated by the motor20, through the drive shaft 32, various swinging, swaying, bobbing andwhipping movements are imparted to the rod members 46 depending on theirregularities in the periphery 44 of the open top of the tubular member34.

More particularly, in operation, since the tubular member 34 is cantedor oblique to a vertical axis, a rod member 46, being smaller indiameter than the tubular member 34, normally will rest further offvertical than the tube with the bottom end 46a of the rod member bearingagainst the top of the plug member 42 and the adjacent inside wall ofthe tubular member which is furthest above its axis. The area 46b of therod member will bear on the periphery 44 of the open top of the tube onthe portion of the periphery which is the lowest point thereof (see FIG.1). As the tubular member 34 is rotated by the motor 20, the rod member46 will seek, through gravity, the above described condition. However,due to the friction of the bearing points between the rod member and thetubular member at the area 46b of the rod member and the periphery 44 ofthe tubular member, the rod member will tend to move with the rotationof the tube until the bearing point 46b of the rod member is far enoughabove the lowest point of the periphery 44 such that gravity willovercome the friction and return the rod member back to the lowest pointof the periphery about the tubular opening, and possibly proceed to moveslightly up the opposite side of the tube due to the inertia of the rodmember.

This sequence of the rod member 46 riding up away from the low point ofthe opening periphery 44 until gravity overcomes the rod member andslides or rolls the rod member back to the low point of the periphery,imparts various action to the rod member depending upon the shape of theperiphery 44.

The periphery 44 of the open top of the tubular member 34, comprising acam means as described above, may be irregularly shaped, by deformingoff circular or cutting unevenly shaped edges to form an irregulardriving surface so as to accentuate the action of the rod member bycarrying it further from its low point and providing an uneven, bumpysurface upon which the rod member rides as it returns to its low point.Many different configurations are contemplated. FIG. 2 shows a camconfiguration designed to impart substantial motion to a single rodmember 46 once each revolution of the tubular member 34. To this end, asubstantial portion of the periphery 44 is generally circular, as at440. However, an interrupting recess area 44b is provided as a detent orsmaller radius section. With this configuration, as the rod member 46falls into the smaller radius section 44b, the rod member is carriedfarthest away from the low point of the periphery 44. As the shaftapproaches the high point, it falls out of the section 44b and generatesa substantial whipping motion to the rod member. The balance of theperiphery 44 being circular and smooth, as at 44a, allows the whippingaction to go undisturbed until the section 44b of the periphery againcaptures the rod member and moves it therewith.

Various objects, described in greater detail hereinafter, may be mountedon the free moving ends of the rod members 46. However, it should bepointed out at this time that various cam surfaces formed about theperiphery 44 of the tubular member 34 can be tuned to the whippiness ofa rod member and the mass and moment of its object on its outer end soas to achieve a va riety of motions most appropriate to the type ofsculpture contemplated. For example, a simulated flying kite 50 (FIG.6), having a tail portion 52, can be simulated. In addition, the noddingor shaking motions ofa caricature head 54 (FIG. can be simulated. Incomparing FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that various lengths of rodmembers 46 may be employed.

FIG. 3 shows a cam configuration about the periphery 44 of the tubularmember 34 designed for a plurality of rod members 46, such as might beused for a bunch of abstract flowers 56 as seen in FIG. 4. Theconfiguration of FIG. 3 employs flat areas 44(- which, in the exemplaryembodiment, are diametrically disposed across the periphery 44. Theseflat areas impart a more gentle motion to the bundle of rod members 46(FIG. 4). The bundle tends to roll and the highest shafts fall off thetop side of the bundle which sets the whipping of that shaft intomotion.

It should be noted that the angle of the tubular member 34 off verticalshould be sufficient to prevent the rod members 46 from achieving avertical mode, or else the rod members will rotate 350 rather than swingand sway in less than a 180 arc. However, the angle of the tubularmember should not be so far off vertical that the bottom end 460 of therod member 46 will not be maintained by friction against the plug 42.These angle limits of the tubular member 34 primarily are dependent onthe relationship between the length of the tubular member, the insidediameter ofthe tubular member, and the diameter of the rod members 46.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

l. A kinetic sculpture, comprising:

a base structure adapted for positioning on a support structure such asa table top or the like;

motive means mounted on said base structure;

motion imparting means mounted on said base structure and operativelyassociated with said motive means to be driven thereby, said motionimparting means including means providing an elongated cavity having asubstantially non-circular open top and a substantially closed bottomand being rotatable by said motive means about an axis extendinggenerally longitudinally of said cavity; and

at least one elongated flexible rod'like member of a cross sectionalsize less than the inner cross dimensions of said cavity, said rodmember being positioned at one end into said cavity so as to be freelymovable therein whereby swinging, bobbing, swaying and other movementsmay be imparted to said rod member in response to rotation of saidmotion imparting means depending on the cross sectional shape of saidcavity.

2. The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 wherein said motion imparting meansis rotated about an axis extending oblique to a vertical axis throughsaid base structure when properly positioned on the support structure.

3. The kinetic sculpture of claim 2 wherein the major longitudinal axisof said cavity is generally coincident with said oblique axis ofrotation.

4. The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 wherein said motion imparting meanscomprises a generally upright tu bular member rotated by said motivemeans generally about its major axis.

5. The kinetic sculpture of claim 4 wherein said tubular member isdisposed on said base structure oblique to a vertical axis through saidbase structure when properly positioned on the support structure.

6. The kinetic sculpture of claim 5 wherein the periphery of said opentop of the tubular member is disposed oblique to a vertical axis throughsaid base structure when properly positioned on the support structure.

7. The kinetic sculpture of claim 6 wherein the periphery of said opentop of the tubular member is irregularly shaped to cause various motionsto the free end of said flexible rod-likc member depending on theirregularities of said periphery.

8. The kinetic sculpture of claim 7 wherein said periphery is providedwith flat areas.

9. The kinetic sculpture of claim 7 wherein said periphery issubstantially circular with an interrupting recessed area for capturingand moving said rod-like member a portion of each revolution as the tuberotates.

10. The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 including a figure object mountedgenerally on the free end of said rodlike member for movement therewith.

11. The kinetic sculpture of claim 10 wherein said figure object isformed in the shape of a kite.

12. The kinetic sculpture of claim 10 including a plurality of saidrod-like members disposed in said cavity and including a figure objecton the end of each rodlike member formed in the shape of an abstractflower.

13. A kinetic sculpture, comprising: a base structure; a generallytubular motion imparting device rotatably mounted on said base structureoblique to a vertical axis therethrough, said tubular device having asubstantially closed bottom and a substantially non-circular open top;means for rotating said tubular device about a longitudinal axis thereofoblique to said vertical axis; and a flexible rod-like member freelypositioned in said tubular device with one end of said member resting onthe bottom of the tubular device, said rod-like member having a diameterless than one-half the inside diameter of said tubular device wherebyswinging, bobbing, swaying and other movements may be imparted to saidrod-like member in response to rotation of said tubular device dependingon the shape of said open top of the tubular device.

14. The kinetic sculpture of claim 13 wherein the open top of saidtubular device is irregularly shaped and the periphery thereof extendsoblique to said vertical axis.

1. A kinetic sculpture, comprising: a base structure adapted forpositioning on a support structure such as a table top or the like;motive means mounted on said base structure; motion imparting meansmounted on said base structure and operatively associated with saidmotive means to be driven thereby, said motion imparting means includingmeans providing an elongated cavity having a substantially non-circularopen top and a substantially closed bottom and being rotatable by saidmotive means about an axis extending generally longitudinally of saidcavity; and at least one elongated flexible rod-like member of a crosssectional size less than the inner cross dimensions of said cavity, saidrod member being positioned at one end into said cavity so as to befreely movable therein whereby swinging, bobbing, swaying and othermovements may be imparted to said rod member in response to rotation ofsaid motion imparting means depending on the cross sectional shape ofsaid cavity.
 2. The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 wherein said motionimparting means is rotated about an axis extending oblique to a verticalaxis through said base structure when properly positioned on the supportstructure.
 3. The kinetic sculpture of claim 2 wherein the majorlongitudinal axis of said cavity is generally coincident with saidoblique axis of rotation.
 4. The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 whereinsaid motion imparting means comprises a generally upright tubular memberrotated by said motive means generally about its major axis.
 5. Thekinetic sculpture of claim 4 wherein said tubular member is disposed onsaid base structure oblique to a vertical axis through said basestructure when properly positioned on the support structure.
 6. Thekinetic sculpture of claim 5 wherein the periphery of said open top ofthe tubular member is disposed oblique to a vertical axis through saidbase structure when properly positioned on the support structure.
 7. Thekinetic sculpture of claim 6 wherein the periphery of said open top ofthe tubular member is irregularly shaped to cause various motions to thefree end of said flexible rod-like member depending on theirregularities of said periphery.
 8. The kinetic sculpture of claim 7wherein said periphery is provided with flat areas.
 9. The kineticsculpture of claim 7 wherein said periphery is substantially circularwith an interrupting recessed area for capturing and moving saidrod-like member a portion of each revolution as the tube rotates. 10.The kinetic sculpture of claim 1 including a figure object mountedgenerally on the free end of said rod-like member for movementtherewith.
 11. The kinetic sculpture of claim 10 wherein said figureobject is formed in the shape of a kite.
 12. The kinetic sculpture ofclaim 10 including a plurality of said rod-like members disposed in saidcavity and including a figure object on the end of each rod-like memberformed in the shape of an abstract flower.
 13. A kinetic sculpture,comprising: a base structure; a generally tubular motion impartingdevice rotatably mounTed on said base structure oblique to a verticalaxis therethrough, said tubular device having a substantially closedbottom and a substantially non-circular open top; means for rotatingsaid tubular device about a longitudinal axis thereof oblique to saidvertical axis; and a flexible rod-like member freely positioned in saidtubular device with one end of said member resting on the bottom of thetubular device, said rod-like member having a diameter less thanone-half the inside diameter of said tubular device whereby swinging,bobbing, swaying and other movements may be imparted to said rod-likemember in response to rotation of said tubular device depending on theshape of said open top of the tubular device.
 14. The kinetic sculptureof claim 13 wherein the open top of said tubular device is irregularlyshaped and the periphery thereof extends oblique to said vertical axis.